Packaging box assembly

ABSTRACT

A packaging box assembly includes a box body and a cover body. The box body has a box base plate connected to four box side plates, and extension plates that have the same with as and that are connected respectively and foldably to the box side plates. The box body defines a small volume space and the cover body surrounds the box side plates when the extension plates are folded over the box side plates. The box body defines a large volume space and the cover body surrounds the extension plates when the extension plates are unfolded. In a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary case is attached to the box base plate of the box body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 095131753, filed on Aug. 29, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a packaging box assembly, more particularly to one including a box body that has one box base plate with sides connected respectively to four box side plates to define a small space that can receive a small size article. The box base plate and the box side plates can also cooperate with extension plates to form a large space that can receive a large size article. The packaging box assembly thus has dual purposes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional packaging boxes for computers generally include boxes for packaging a folded computer case, boxes for packaging a keyboard, and boxes for packaging a display panel. In case a fully assembled computer is to be delivered from a factory, a larger box for containing the assembled computer is needed. Among the aforesaid packaging boxes, many of the boxes are used to package the folded computer cases and the assembled computer, thereby consuming a large amount of materials and labor. The costs for packaging and transporting computers are therefore increased. In view of this, how to develop an improved box that can be used for packaging either a small volume article or a large volume article becomes an important subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a dual-purpose packaging box assembly that can be assembled to form a small volume for containing a small size article, or a large volume for containing a large size article.

According to one aspect of the invention, a packaging box assembly comprises a box body and a cover body. The box body includes a box base plate having four box lateral sides respectively connected to four box side plates. The box side plates respectively have movable lateral ends disposed away from and parallel to the box lateral sides of the box base plate, and extension plates having the same width as the box side plates and connected respectively and foldably to the movable lateral ends. Two opposite ones of the box side plates each have two opposite box lateral ends connected respectively to box reinforcing plates. The remaining two of the box side plates each have two box adhesion parts which are proximate to two box lateral ends thereof and to which the box reinforcing plates can be attached after being folded.

The cover body includes a cover base plate having four cover lateral sides respectively connected to four cover side plates. Two opposite ones of the cover side plates each have two opposite cover lateral ends connected respectively to cover reinforcing plates. The remaining two of the cover side plates each have two cover adhesion parts which are proximate to two cover lateral ends thereof and to which the cover reinforcing plates can be attached after being folded.

When the extension plates are folded over the box side plates, the box body defines a small volume space that can receive a small size article therein, and the cover body surrounds the box side plates. When the extension plates are unfolded, the box body defines a large volume space that can receive a large size article therein, and the cover body surrounds the extension plates. Therefore, the packaging box assembly is provided with dual purposes.

According to another aspect of the invention, a packaging box assembly comprises a box body and an auxiliary case. The box body includes a box base plate having a plurality of box lateral sides, a plurality of box side plates associated respectively with the box lateral sides and connected to each other, a pair of box insert slots extending through the box base plate, and locking tongue plates associated respectively with the box insert slots. The auxiliary case includes a case base plate having a plurality of case lateral sides, a plurality of case side plates projecting respectively from the case lateral sides, two case tabs projecting respectively from two opposite ones of the case side plates and each having a case insert slot. The auxiliary case is attachable to the box body. The case tabs and the case insert slots are respectively interlockable with the box insert slots and the locking tongue plates to attach the auxiliary case to the box body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a box body of the first preferred embodiment of the packaging box assembly according to the invention in an unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cover body of the first preferred embodiment of the packaging box assembly according to the invention in an unfolded state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing that the first preferred embodiment according to the invention is used to package an assembled computer module;

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view showing that the first preferred embodiment according to the invention is used to package a disassembled computer case;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an auxiliary case of the packaging box assembly according to the invention in an unfolded state;

FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing that the auxiliary case is to be attached to the box body;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the auxiliary case attached to the box body;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the auxiliary case in a folded state;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the auxiliary case in a folded state;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the box body of the second preferred embodiment in an unfolded state;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the box body of the second preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11, but showing the folded sub-bases of the box body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a packaging box assembly according to the present invention includes a box body 1 and a cover body 2. Both of the box body 1 and the cover body 2 are formed from a foldable packaging plate. Each foldable packaging plate includes a base plate 10 or 20 having four lateral sides 100 or 200 respectively connected to four side plates 11 or 21 having the same width. The side plates 11 or 21 have the same height. The base plate 20 of the cover body 2 is larger than the base plate 10 of the box body 1. The box body 1 is characterized in that the side plates 11 of the base plate 10 have movable lateral ends 110 disposed away from and parallel to the respective lateral sides 100 of the base plate 10, and extension plates 12 connected foldably and respectively to the movable lateral ends 110 and having the same width as the respective side plates 11.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a small volume space (S1) is formed by folding the base plate 10 and the side plates 11 connected to the four lateral sides of the base plate 10 to receive a small size article, such as a folded computer case 3, and is covered by the cover body 2 for packaging purposes. A large volume space (S2) is formed by folding the base plate 10, the side plates 11 and the extension plates 12 to receive a large size article, such as an assembled computer module 4, and is covered by the cover body 2 for packaging purposes. A more detailed description regarding the dual purposes of the packaging box assembly according to the present invention is provided hereinafter.

The box body 1 is made from corrugated paper board and includes the box base plate 10 with four box lateral sides 100, 100′ connected respectively to four box side plates 11, 11′ having the same length. The four box side plates 11, 11′ having the same height/width. The box side plates 11, 11′ have respective movable lateral ends 110 disposed away from and parallel to the respective box lateral sides 100, 100′, and extension plates 12 having the same width as the box side plates 11, 11′ and foldable at the respective movable lateral ends 110.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a pair of box insert slots 13 are optionally provided at two connection parts of the box side plate 11′, i.e., at the two opposite box lateral sides 100′. Box locking tongue plates 14 associate with and project into the respective box insert slots 13 from the respective box side plates 11′. The word “optionally” indicates that the main packaging function of the present invention will not change even in the absence of the box insert slots 13. The two box side plates 11′, which are provided with the box insert slots 13, each have two lateral ends 111 respectively formed with box reinforcing plates 15. The remaining two box side plates 11 each have two box adhesion parts 16 proximate to two box lateral ends 112 thereof for adhesion of the respective box reinforcing plates 15 thereto when the latter are folded.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the cover body 2 is made by folding a corrugated paper board, and includes the cover base plate 20 with four cover lateral sides 200 respectively connected to the cover side plates 21, 21′ having the same length as the cover lateral sides. The four cover side plates 21, 21′ have the same width or height. Two opposite cover side plates 21′ each have two cover lateral ends 210 which are connected respectively to cover reinforcing plates 22. The remaining two opposite cover side plates 21 are each provided with cover adhesion parts 23 proximate two lateral ends 211 thereof so that the respective cover reinforcing plates 22 can be adhered thereto after bent.

Referring to FIG. 3, for packaging, the box base plate 10 of the box body 1 is used as one side wall, the box side plates 11, 11′ are folded perpendicularly along the box lateral sides 100, 100′, the extension plates 12 are unfolded, and the box reinforcing plates 15 of the box side plates 11, 11′ are attached to the corresponding box adhesion parts 16. In this embodiment, attachment is done by gluing. A large volume space (S2) is thus defined by the box base plate 10, the box side plates 11, 11′ provided at the four lateral sides 100, 100′ of the box base plate 10, and the extension plates 12. An opening 17 is defined by the four extension plates 12.

For packaging a large size article, e.g., an assembled computer module 4, cushion pads 40, the so-called styrofoam pads, are fitted to two sides of the computer module 4, the computer module 4 together with the cushion pads 40 is placed within the large volume space (S2), and the opening 17 is closed by the cover body 2 in such a manner that the cover side plates 21, 21′ surround the outer sides of the four extension plates 12. Packaging of the large size article or the entire computer module 4 is finished after the entire packaging box is sealed.

For packaging a small size article, e.g., a disassembled computer case 3 which has no interior computer components, the disassembled computer case 3 is placed within the small volume space (S1) as shown in FIG. 4. The four extension plates 12 are then folded over the top surface 30 of the disassembled computer case 3, and the cover body 2 is placed over the extension plates 12 such that the cover side plates 21, 21′ surround the outer sides of the four box side plates 11, 11′. Packaging of the small size article or the disassembled computer case 3 is finished after the entire packaging box is sealed.

The present invention further provides an auxiliary case 5 for packaging another small size article, e.g. a display panel. As shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary case 5 is made from a corrugated paper board and includes a case base plate 50 having four case lateral sides 500 connected respectively to four case side plates 51, 51′ having the same length as the case lateral sides 500. The four case side plates 51, 51′ have the same width/height. Two opposite case side plates 51′ each have two opposite case lateral ends 510 connected to case reinforcing plates 52, respectively. The remaining two opposite case side plates 51 each have two opposite case lateral ends 511 respectively provided with case adhesion parts 53 to permit the respective case reinforcing plates 52 to be attached thereto after being folded. In this embodiment, the auxiliary case 5 further has case tabs 54 projecting respectively from two distal ends 500′ which are respectively provided on two opposite case side plates 51. The case tabs 54 respectively have case insert slots 55 extending therethrough at the respective distal ends 500′.

Referring to FIG. 6, a display panel (not shown) may be packed as follows: The case base plate 50 is used as a side wall, and the case side plates 51, 51′ are folded perpendicularly along the case lateral sides 500. The case reinforcing plates 52 of the case side plates 51 are attached to the respective case adhesion parts 53. In this embodiment, attachment is done by gluing. As the case base plate 50 and the four case side plates 51 confine a smaller receiving space, i.e. an auxiliary receiving space (S3), the display panel may be placed in the auxiliary receiving space (S3). The entire auxiliary case 5 may be placed against the side wall 101 formed by the box base plate 10 of the box body 1 that encloses either the small size article, such as the disassembled computer case 3, or the large size article, such as the assembled computer module 4. In this example, the auxiliary case 5 is attached to the side wall 101 formed by the box body 1 that is configured for packing the disassembled computer case 3. Referring to FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 6, the case tabs 54 are inserted into the respective box insert slots 13 provided in the box base plate 10, and the box locking tongue plates 14 provided in the box base plate 10 are inserted into the respective case insert slots 55 of the auxiliary case 5. The auxiliary case 5 is thus attached to the side wall 101 formed by the box base plate 10.

Referring back to FIG. 2, there are fold lines 24 provided in the two cover side plates 21′ connected to two opposite cover lateral sides 200. The fold lines 24 in each of the opposite cover side plates 21′ extend obliquely and convergingly from two corner points (p) where each of the two opposite cover lateral sides 200 meets the cover reinforcing plates 22 and the cover lateral ends 210 of the respective cover side plates 21′.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, during transport, the other two opposite cover side plates 21 can be folded toward each other and pressed against the cover base plate 20 due to the presence of the fold lines 24. As such, the cover body 2 is placed in a flat configuration which occupies less space. To achieve a similar purpose, an alternative box body 1′ is provided as shown in FIG. 10 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In particular, the box body 1′ is composed of two foldable plates each of which has first and second plate components 18, 19. As the first and second plate components 18, 19 are substantially identical in shape, illustration thereof will be primarily based on the first plate components 18. Each of the first and second plate components 18, 19 has a sub-base 180, 190, a sub-side plate 181, 191 having a bottom end connected to a top end 1800 of the sub-base 180, 190, and a sub-extension plate 182, 192 having a bottom end connected to a top end of the sub-side plate 181, 191. Each of the sub-side plates 181, 191 of the first and second plate components 18, 19 has a first side 1810, 1910 and a second side 1811, 1911 between top and bottom ends thereof. The first side 1810 of the sub-side plate 181 of the first plate component 18 is connected to the second side 1911 of the sub-side plate 191 of the second plate component 19. The second side 1811 of the sub-side plate 181 of the first plate component 18 has a connecting plate 183 projecting therefrom in a direction away from the first side 1810. Each sub-side plate 181, 191 is further provided with an insert slot 13′ similar to the box insert slot 13 described in the previous preferred embodiment. The insert slot 13′ is provided at the junction of the sub-side plate 181 and the sub-base 180, i.e. the top end 1800 of the sub-base 180. In each sub-side plate 181, a locking tongue plate 14′ associates with and projects into the corresponding insert slot 13′. When the box body 1′ is delivered from a factory, the two foldable plates are connected to each other as shown in FIG. 11, wherein the connecting plates 183 of the first plate components 18 are adhered to the sub-side plate 191 of the respective second plate components 19. Then, the two foldable plates are laid one over the other. When the connection parts where the first and second plate components 18, 19 are interconnected are pulled away from each other, a precursor of the box body 1′ is formed. When the sub-bases 180, 190 of the first and second plate components 18, 19 are folded to overlap each other and are adhered together, a base plate 10′ of the box body 1′ is formed as shown in FIG. 12. Dual packaging purposes provided by the second preferred embodiment are similar to that provided by the first preferred embodiment. The auxiliary case 5 can be attached to the box body 1′ in the same manner as described hereinbefore for attachment of the auxiliary case 5 to the box body 1. The box body 1′ and the cover body 2 can be folded for delivery from a factory, and can be unfolded for packaging at a packaging site. The packaging operation for the second preferred embodiment is similar to that for the first preferred embodiment.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A packaging box assembly comprising: a box body including a box base plate having four box lateral sides respectively connected to four box side plates, said box side plates respectively having movable lateral end disposed away from and parallel to said box lateral sides of said box base plate, respectively, and extension plates having the same width as said box side plates and connected respectively and foldably to said movable lateral ends, two opposite ones of said box side plates each having two opposite box lateral ends connected respectively to box reinforcing plates, the remaining two of said box side plates each having box adhesion parts which are proximate to two opposite box lateral ends thereof and to which said box reinforcing plates can be attached after being folded; and a cover body including a cover base plate having four cover lateral sides respectively connected to four cover side plates, two opposite ones of said cover side plates each having two opposite cover lateral ends connected respectively to cover reinforcing plates, the remaining two of said cover side plates each having cover adhesion parts which are proximate to two cover lateral ends thereof and to which said cover reinforcing plates can be attached after being folded, wherein, when said extension plates are folded over said box side plates, said box body defines a small volume space that can receive a small size article therein, and said cover body surrounds said box side plates, and wherein, when said extension plates are unfolded, said box body defines a large volume space that can receive a large size article therein, and said cover body surrounds said extension plates.
 2. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said box body further includes a pair of box insert slots respectively extending through two of said box lateral sides of said box base plate where said two of said box side plates having said box reinforcing plates are connected to said box base plate, and locking tongue plates associated respectively with said box insert slots, and wherein said packaging box assembly further comprises an auxiliary case which includes a case base plate having four case lateral sides respectively connected to four case side plates, two opposite ones of said case side plates each having two opposite case lateral ends connected respectively to case reinforcing plates, the remaining two of said case side plates each having two opposite case lateral ends provided respectively with case adhesion parts to which said case reinforcing plates are attached after being folded, said auxiliary case further including case tabs projecting respectively from distal ends of two opposite ones of said case side plates connected to said four case lateral sides of said case base plate, said case tabs respectively having case insert slots extending therethrough at said distal ends, and wherein, said auxiliary case is disposed over said box base plate of said box body, said case tabs being inserted respectively into said box insert slots in said box base plate, said locking tongue plates being inserted respectively into said case insert slots so that said auxiliary case is fixed to said box base plate.
 3. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said box body and said cover body is made from corrugated paper.
 4. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover body further includes fold lines in two of said cover side plates connected to two opposite ones of said cover lateral sides of said cover base plates, said fold lines in each of said cover side plates extending obliquely and convergingly from two corner points where each of said two opposite ones of said cover lateral sides meet said cover reinforcing plates and said cover lateral ends of the respective one of said cover side plates.
 5. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said box body is composed of two foldable plates each having first and second plate components, each of said first and second plate components having a sub-base, a sub-side plate having a bottom end connected to a top end of said sub-base, and a sub-extension plate having a bottom end connected to a top end of said sub-side plate, said sub-side plate of each of said first and second plate components having first and second sides between said top and bottom ends of said sub-side plate, said sub-side plate of said first plate component being connected to said second side of said sub-side plate of said second plate components, said second side of said sub-side plate of said first plate component having a connecting plate projecting therefrom in a direction away from said first side, said two foldable plates being connected to each other, said connecting plate of said first plate component of one of said foldable plates being adhered to said first side of said second plate component of the other one of said foldable plates, said sub-bases of said first and second plate components are folded to overlap each other and are adhered together.
 6. The packaging box assembly of claim 5, wherein said sub-side plate of each of said first and second plate components further has an insert slot at said top end thereof where said sub-side plate is connected to said sub-base of a respective one of said first and second plate components, and a locking tongue plate associated with said insert slot of said sub-side plate.
 7. A packaging box assembly comprising: a box body including a box base plate having a plurality of box lateral sides, a plurality of box side plates projecting respectively from said box lateral sides and connected to each other, a pair of box insert slots respectively extending through said box base plate, locking tongue plates associated respectively with said box insert slots; and an auxiliary case which includes a case base plate having a plurality of case lateral sides, a plurality of case side plates projecting respectively from said case lateral sides, and two case tabs projecting respectively from two opposite ones of said case side plates and each having a case insert slot, said auxiliary case being attachable to said box body, said case tabs and said case insert slots being interlockable with said box insert slots and said locking tongue plates to attach said auxiliary case to said box body. 